THE ORBIT REPORT: The Last Week of Summer in Iowa: Ice Cream Socials, Backpacks, and Camping Memories

Dear Orbit Friends,

The cicadas are buzzing louder these days, which can only mean one thing — summer is slipping through our fingers. We’re in that funny in-between space: still squeezing in park days and fishing trips, but also sharpening pencils, sorting folders, and wondering how on earth our kid grew another inch since June.

This week has been a whirlwind of little rituals that signal the changing season. The school supplies pile has taken over our dining room table (glue sticks, crayons, and a very specific kind of notebook that somehow every teacher must require). Our mornings are a tug-of-war between “let’s sleep in one last time” and “better start practicing the alarm clock.”

And then there was the Hoover Elementary ice cream social. The kind of small-town gathering that makes you stop and feel lucky. Parents chatting in the shade, kids running wild, sprinkles scattered like confetti, and the hum of excitement that only a new school year brings. It wasn’t just about the ice cream — though the chocolate swirl did not disappoint — it was about community, about showing up, about reminding our daughter (and ourselves) that she’s stepping into a place full of familiar faces and new adventures.

As I write this, the camper and tent from last week’s Lake McBride trip are still half-packed in the garage. The fishing poles too — though let’s be honest, we didn’t catch anything last time anyway. That’s summer for you: a little messy, a little unpredictable, but full of moments that make you pause and smile.

Next week, we’ll be diving into routine again — early mornings, homework folders, coffee in travel mugs instead of lazy porch cups. But for now, we’re hanging onto these golden evenings, the last drips of melted ice cream, and the quiet magic of the final week of summer.

Here’s to new beginnings, old traditions, and keeping the snack bag stocked (freeze-dried Ice Cream, anyone?) for all the little adventures ahead.

With love,

Sara-Jane Shelvock

CEO, Torus Coffee Company